promulgate
verb
transitive verb
Roger Shattuck John S. Rigden et al. Ken Myers 
Did you know?
The origin of promulgate is a bit murky, or perhaps we should say "milky." It comes from Latin promulgatus, which in turn derives from pro-, meaning "forward," and -mulgare, a form that is probably related to the verb mulgēre, meaning "to milk" or "to extract." Mulgēre is an ancestor of the English word emulsion ("mixture of mutually insoluble liquids"), and it is also related to the Old English word that became milk itself. Like its synonyms declare, announce, and proclaim, promulgate means "to make known publicly." It particularly implies the proclaiming of a dogma, doctrine, or law.
Synonyms
- advertise
- announce
- annunciate
- blare
- blaze
- blazon
- broadcast
- declare
- enunciate
- flash
- give out
- herald
- placard
- post
- proclaim
- publicize
- publish
- release
- sound
- trumpet
Example Sentences
Ellen Carmichael, National Review, 30 Aug. 2022 This is why the Federal Trade Commission is investigating the industry, and why federal and state lawmakers are hurrying to promulgate new regulations to keep the most egregious PBM behaviors in check. Ted Okon, STAT, 8 July 2022 Even secretaries of state or election boards -- which oversee elections -- would not be allowed to promulgate voting rules not explicitly authorized by state legislatures. Joshua A. Douglas, CNN, 7 July 2022 The administration has been slow to promulgate driver-assist technology policy, and a leadership vacuum persists at the federal agency regulating commercial trucks. Wiley Deck, Fortune, 4 May 2022 In the process, informal, motivated networks of people can form to promote and promulgate winning approaches. Joe Mckendrick, Forbes, 14 Apr. 2022 For those hopes to become a reality, the administration must move swiftly to promulgate the program rules, staff up, and expedite the process. Steven Banks, Fortune, 31 Mar. 2022 The bill would require the finance department to promulgate rules to implement the disbursement of the grants to the pregnancy resource centers. Michael R. Wickline, Arkansas Online, 3 Mar. 2022 Finding that the OSH Act gave OSHA broad authority to promulgate standards to keep workplaces safe, including the creation of the Vaccination and Testing ETS. Tom Spiggle, Forbes, 21 Dec. 2021 See More Word History
Latin promulgatus, past participle of promulgare, from pro- forward + -mulgare (probably akin to mulgēre to milk, extract) — more at emulsion
1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Legal Definition
promulgate
transitive verb
promulgate
verb
Synonyms & Similar Words
- publish
- announce
- proclaim
- declare
- advertise
- post
- publicize
- promote
- disclose
- disseminate
- broadcast
- herald
- enunciate
- release
- run with
- blare
- trumpet
- annunciate
- placard
- sound
- spread
- report
- give out
- reveal
- introduce
- blaze
- flash
- beat the drum (for or about)
- blazon
- bulletin
- impart
- inform
- bark
- bill
- manifest
- show
- notify
- gazette
- cry
- billboard
- feature
- ring
- divulge
- communicate
- apprise
- toll
- blurb
- plug
- knell
- puff
- call (off or out)
- advise
- hand down
- intimate
- kithe
- pitch
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- conceal
- suppress
- withhold
- silence
- revoke
- recall
- retract
- hush (up)
- recant
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of promulgate are announce, declare, and proclaim. While all these words mean "to make known publicly," promulgate implies the proclaiming of a dogma, doctrine, or law.
In some situations, the words announce and promulgate are roughly equivalent. However, announce implies the declaration of something for the first time.
Although the words declare and promulgate have much in common, declare implies explicitness and usually formality in making known.
The meanings of proclaim and promulgate largely overlap; however, proclaim implies declaring clearly, forcefully, and authoritatively.